FORT CARSON, Colo. – Why do Soldiers choose Fort Carson?
A case for destination is easy.
Lauded as one of the most sought-after U.S. Army duty stations, the area surrounding Fort Carson offers the full gambit of urban and rural activities. With Denver an hour to the north and miles of hiking trails and rock faces in every direction, there’s plenty to occupy both the metropolitan and the outdoorsman.
An even better case can be made for duty.
The Ivy Division and Fort Carson provides officers, noncommissioned officers, and junior enlisted Soldiers with the opportunity to train and fight in a unit whose mission has and continues to be relevant for the defense of our nation.
So, which is it: destination or duty?
In my time at Fort Carson, I’ve discovered that there are four duty-related reasons for choosing to serve with the 4th Infantry Division and at the Mountain Post.
#1 Practice Multi-Domain Ops at Home Station
Soldiers who choose Fort Carson choose to practice MDO at home station.
When I first arrived at Fort Carson, I was familiar with the 4th Infantry Division, but it didn’t have a clear identity. In the past year, the division began making a case as the Army’s marquee multi-domain operations division because at Fort Carson we don’t just talk about it; we practice it.
While we have many opportunities to practice MDO here, every two years, offset from 4ID’s biennial warfighter exercise, we conduct Ivy Mass, a joint fire support coordination exercise that allows us to maintain and develop our MDO competencies with regional joint force partners.
#2 Army and Joint Career Opportunities
Soldiers who choose Fort Carson choose to increase their military career opportunities.
On Fort Carson we have 4ID units, but there are several other tenant units we call Mountain Post Partners that offer broadening experiences, including the 1st Space Brigade, 71st Explosive Ordnance Group, 10th Special Forces Group, 4th Security Forces Assistance Brigade, 10th Field Hospital, Colorado National Guard and the 759th Military Police Battalion. In 2027, we will add the 4th Multi-domain Task Force to the post.
Additionally, nearby units located at Peterson, Schriever, and Buckley Space Force Bases, the United States Air Force Academy, and Cheyenne Mountain Complex provide joint service opportunities. For dual military families, this means there are increased opportunities for those military spouses to be stationed in the same area despite branch of service.
#3 Combat, Operational & Training Deployments
Soldiers who choose Fort Carson choose combat, operational and training center deployment rotations.
Historically, Fort Carson units deployed in support of geographic combatant command missions, namely CENTCOM, INDOPACOM and EUCOM. When units aren’t deployed abroad, they generally conduct training at one of our premiere combat training centers, like the National Training Center or the Joint Readiness Training Center.
Since 4ID is leading the way with MDO, it’s formations are earmarked for training deployments, such as Hanuman Guardian, a joint multinational exercise in Thailand; Roving Sands, a joint air defense exercise at Fort Bliss, Texas; Vanguard, a joint military intelligence exercise at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.; Falcon Peak, a joint small-Unmanned Aerial System exercise templated at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site near Trinidad, Colo.; and Project Convergence – Capstone 6, an Army Futures Command exercise focused on testing and fielding new Army systems, including Next Generation Command and Control.
#4 Bottom-up Feedback & Solutions are Encouraged
Soldiers who choose Fort Carson choose the ability to provide bottom-up solutions.
There are several opportunities to offer feedback that make the units and installation better. These opportunities create a direct line from the most junior ranking Soldiers to the installation leadership who desire to do what’s possible to engender pride in service.
The leadership here created recurring events to solicit feedback and educate Soldiers about resources, including Solutions Summits, PCS Breakfasts, and Leadership Professional Development events. Not only is feedback encouraged from within, but it’s also sourced from community partnerships, like the semi-annual Resiliency Summits.
Choose 4ID & Fort Carson for Duty
Sure, this illustrious installation is surrounded by desirable recreational attractions, so there’s no denying that the destination is ideal. However, it’s truly the duty here that is exceptional.
I’m not saying you can’t enjoy the activities outside of the installation, but there is a reason why the Ivy Division is the Army’s Marquee MDO division.
If you’re fortunate enough to join the historic Ivy Division and serve at the Mountain Post, be ready to play your role on one of the best and most lethal teams in the U.S. Army.
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